Author: Katrina Schmidt

Katrina Schmidt is a freshman multiplatform journalism major from Baltimore, Maryland. Besides her role as managing editor of the Beltway Bulletin, Katrina covers softball for The Left Bench. She is also involved with Students Helping Honduras and in the College Park Scholars Justice and Legal Thought Program. Katrina is a lifelong political news junkie, and unlike the average person, finds local politics particularly riveting. Her interest in social justice influences this passion, and she believes that one of the best pathways to change is at the local level.

By Katrina Schmidt Two years and one day after the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, hundreds of people gathered in the War Memorial Building across the street from City Hall to demand change in their city and nation. The first town hall in Baltimore since November’s election featured Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Reps. Elijah Cummings, John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger. Organized by the … Continue reading At Baltimore Town Hall, many worry Trump’s policies will worsen city’s struggles

By Katrina Schmidt. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s March 30 State of the District Address sent a strong message to Congress and President Donald Trump — keep your hands off Washington, D.C. Fiscal, political and social independence for D.C. were at the heart of her address, in line with the 86 percent majority who voted in favor of D.C. statehood in a November referendum. Bowser’s administration has … Continue reading The state of the district? It wants to be a state.

“Yes means yes,” the rallying cry of affirmative consent proponents nationwide, could become the standard for consent education in sexual education classes across Maryland and is already being implemented in Montgomery County schools. Two Montgomery County lawmakers, Dels. Ariana B. Kelly and Marice Morales, proposed a bill that would require public school sexual education classes to teach affirmative consent. Affirmative consent, the premise that any … Continue reading Montgomery County says “yes means yes,” before students get to college

A Prince George’s County delegate has proposed legislation that would prevent counties and municipalities from enacting their own minimum wage. Del. Dereck Davis (D-Prince George’s County) sponsored the bill, along with two delegates from Charles County, which would prevent localities from raising their minimum wage above the state standard, which is $8.75. The legislation would also prohibit municipalities from enacting certain other employee protections and … Continue reading Proposed legislation would strike down minimum wage laws in Maryland